“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age; they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him” (Ps. 92:12–15).
Writing down your goals, like writing down your plan, is the water that God uses to make good things happen. Leave a plant unwatered and untended, and you may not notice for a while that it’s losing strength and health. But it’s dying from the roots up. And one day, the lack of strength and health will start showing in the visible parts as well.
Steady watering, day after day, can bring that plant back to a flower, as long as there’s any life in it. It can still be made to flourish, to be fresh and green. And because you and your children are still here, no matter how much lack of spiritual care has been given them up till now, God can work through that water, poured out through His Word, to restore and renew and keep them growing for a long time. For a lifetime.
So start setting new goals for what you want to learn, apply, and accomplish as a family. One after another, as your plan keeps coming together. Don’t be concerned about starting small. In fact, be sure you don’t over-water the system and flood everything out with frustration. Two or three goals a year is likely sufficient. Each of them very specific, attainable, and measurable, able to be recognized and celebrated when you reach them.
But more than anything, remember that God who gives you the goals is committed and able to help you accomplish your goals. You’re not competing with anybody. You’re not padding your spiritual résumé. You’re not acting as though you’re somebody you’re not. You’re just raising the importance of your family’s spiritual growth to the level of other areas of your life where you try to show steady progress and development. If goals contribute to bringing positive change there, why shouldn’t they bring even greater change here?
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